County designated disaster area due to flooding

Area farmers experienced severe flooding in July after a series of severe storms.

WASHINGTON – Darke County is one of eight western Ohio counties that have been designated as natural disaster areas after months of heavy rain and flooding.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture tag for Butler, Darke, Defiance, Hamilton, Mercer, Paulding, Preble and Van Wert counties means farmers there can seek federal assistance including emergency loans. They also can get guidance on applying from local Farm Service Agency offices.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown announced the designations in Washington on Wednesday. The Ohio Democrat who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee says the aid helps farmers manage risk and keep up a reliable food supply for Ohio and the world.

With this disaster designation, agricultural producers in these counties are eligible to be considered for assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), including emergency loans. Eligible farmers have eight months from the date of the official disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans and can receive guidance in applying for these loans from their local FSA office.

“Ohio producers whose livelihoods are threatened by no fault of their own rely on the Farm Service Agency’s emergency loan program to manage risk on their farms and continue to provide a reliable food supply for Ohio and the world,” said Brown. “This federal assistance will help producers in western Ohio rebuild and get back on their feet.”

Area farmers experienced severe flooding in July after a series of severe storms.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2015/08/web1_IMG_2266-RGB1.jpgArea farmers experienced severe flooding in July after a series of severe storms.